It was shut down in 2010, and Tesla took over that same year after negotiating a deal with Toyota. The electric-car maker also received a government loan to cover costs of converting the facility to electric-car production.

When it closed in 2010, NUMMI employed 4,700 people, but Tesla now has about 6,200 workers at the 5.3-million square-foot site.

The expansion signed off by the Fremont City Council will reportedly add 4.6 million square feet, and add 3,100 jobs.